We would also like to see all four candidates here -- not in closed
fundraising events, like Obama's and Romney's recent visits to Portland,
but in appearances to discuss the issues of concern to Oregonians and
maybe even to learn something about them. In a campaign year when both
sides seem to be running for the presidency of the swing states, that
seems unlikely.

This year, The Oregonian will not be endorsing a
candidate for president. The access and close observation that inform
our endorsements for state and local offices and Congress do not apply
in a national race; our CNN-level view of the presidential race is
similar to everyone else's.

But we will be taking advantage of
the acute contrasts in this presidential contest to comment on the
debate, to assess each side's arguments for putting its principles into
practice, to make the call when those waves of 30-second TV spots go
even lower than they have so far. We're confident that a race featuring
sharp differences and sharp elbows will provide a lot to discuss.

And we'll be listening closely for signs that any of the candidates have noticed the particular interests of Oregon.